The Fan is a 1981 American psychological thriller film directed by Edward Bianchi and starring Lauren Bacall, Michael Biehn, James Garner, and Maureen Stapleton.

The plot follows a famous stage and film actress named Sally Ross (Bacall) who is stalked by a violent, deranged fan (Biehn), who begins killing those around her.

Development of The Fan began in 1979, and several iterations of the screenplay were produced by a number of writers before Chapman and Hartwell's version was finalized.

However, after its completion in 1980, Filmways backed out of the project due to their studio's experiencing financial troubles, after which Paramount Pictures acquired distribution rights.

Sally, meanwhile, is rehearsing for a major stage musical while also reconnecting with her ex-husband and fellow actor Jake Berman.

After Douglas is fired from his record store job, he begins stalking Sally, sitting outside of her apartment building and following her to rehearsals.

When Sally returns home accompanied by a private investigator and discovers what has happened, she also finds a threatening letter left behind by Douglas, which reads: "Dearest bitch, see how accessible you are?

The opening night of the musical arrives, and Sally, having received word of Douglas's supposed suicide, returns to the city to perform.

[4] Hussein subsequently left the project over creative differences, after which Edward Bianchi overtook the role of director.

[4] Producer Robert Stigwood initially considered Shirley MacLaine and Anne Bancroft for the lead before Bacall agreed to take the part.

[7] Vincent Canby of The New York Times wrote, "With the help of some funny lines in the screenplay by Priscilla Chapman and John Hartwell, Miss Bacall transforms an essentially creaky, lady-in-distress thriller into something approaching a cinematic event ... 'The Fan' is a far from perfect movie, but it's an entertaining one.

"[10] Sheila Benson of the Los Angeles Times declared the film "a triumph of visual style over thin emotional content" and "a terror-filled but hollow effort.

"[12] Ron Cowan of the Statesman Journal praised Bacall's performance and deemed the film a "stylish and strongly atmospheric production", though he criticized it for being an ultimately "sludgy mixture of slow-moving events and shallowly conceived characters.

"[13] Jacqi Tully of the Arizona Daily Star felt the film was exploitative and "lack[ed] substance", noting: "It seems Bianchi opted for the gruesome side of this tale.

[18] James Garner reflected in his 2011 memoir that The Fan was one of the worst pictures he ever made, and that "the only saving grace was working with Betty Bacall".